POPSUGAR Momshttp://www.popsugar.com/moms
2015-08-02T22:25:19ZPOPSUGAR Momsen-USCopyright 1976-2015 POPSUGAR Inc. All rights reserved.http://media4.popsugar-assets.com/v2856/static/imgs/feeds/logos/popsugar.jpgPOPSUGAR Momshttp://www.popsugar.com/moms
These 9 New Additions Coming to Netflix in August Are For the Whole Family to Enjoyhttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Now-Netflix-Kids-August-2015-37984895
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Now-Netflix-Kids-August-2015-37984895"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media2.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/07/28/790/n/1922398/70af0869_edit_img_cover_file_37984895_1438104869_netflixMAINt5hbIY.large.jpg" /></a><p>Netflix-lovers, rejoice! Starting Aug. 1, the streaming service is rolling out a few new additions for kiddos that will make coming in from hot outdoor play that much sweeter. From a new season of the Netflix-original <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/80s-Cartoon-Reboots-36973817#photo-36973829" >reboot of Inspector Gadget</a> to episodes of the old classic <b>Reading Rainbow</b>, there's something for every kid here - and the rest of the family!</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Now-Netflix-Kids-August-2015-37984895#commentKid TV and MoviesNetflixSun, 02 Aug 2015 13:24:00 PDTAlessia-Santoro37984895Now on Netflix For Kids August 2015Dear Family, I Love You, but I Can't Talk on the Phonehttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Why-Hard-Talk-Phone-When-You-Have-Kids-37986011
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Why-Hard-Talk-Phone-When-You-Have-Kids-37986011"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/07/28/864/n/24155406/628ea104_edit_img_image_15954515_1438111221.large.jpg" /></a><p><i>Talking on the phone can be a bit of a pain, especially when you have kids to watch and a house to clean and dinner to cook. Blogger and mother Wendy Wisner explains exactly why it's so difficult to find times to connect with loved ones in the post originally featured on <a href="http://www.kveller.com/dear-family-i-love-you-but-i-cant-talk-on-the-phone/" target="_blank">Kveller</a>.</i></p>
<p>Dear family and friends,</p>
<p>I love you. I think about you all the time, every day. Those of you who live far away - I miss you like crazy. I wish we all lived together in one little communal village. I wish I could bump into you on the street when I walk my kids to school. I wish we could sit on the stoop and share a coffee while my toddler throws rocks.</p>
<p>It's so cool that we can stay in touch via social media. Do I post too many pictures of my kids? That's only so I can show them to you. I bet you think they're as cute as I do. And when you share pictures of your kids, your vacations, your new running shoes, the mouth-watering meal you've just eaten, I get superhappy. Because it's you. And I want to see you, connect with you.</p>
<p>But you're going to have to make peace with the fact that I just can't call you very much (read: hardly at all) for the next . . . I don't know how many years. If something momentous happens, you know I will drop everything and get on the phone with you. And we can connect other ways besides social media. I'm totally good with texting. Even emails work, though I'll admit I'm a little slower in that department. (Why do emails, even short ones, feel so much more like writing a novel than texting does?)<br />
Phone calls, on the other hand? How can I put it? Having kids in the house makes them pretty much the biggest pain in the ass you can imagine. It's not you - it's my kids. I swear that once they're off to college (OK, maybe a bit before then), I will totally put up my feet and chat away with you on the phone.</p>
<p>Here's why making phone calls = hell on earth right now.</p>
<p><i>Head over to <a href="http://www.kveller.com/dear-family-i-love-you-but-i-cant-talk-on-the-phone/" target="_blank">Kveller</a> to read the rest of this post!</i></p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Why-Hard-Talk-Phone-When-You-Have-Kids-37986011#commentContributor PostStaying SaneParenting HumorParentingSun, 02 Aug 2015 12:33:00 PDTKelsey-Kennick37986011Why It's Hard to Talk on the Phone When You Have KidsWhy This Woman Posted a Photo of Herself Breastfeeding Her 3-Year-Old Son on Facebookhttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Extended-Breastfeeding-Photo-Controversy-37983572
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Extended-Breastfeeding-Photo-Controversy-37983572"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/07/28/681/n/1922398/0ad975db_edit_img_cover_file_14433127_1438095905_bfeeding-thwusXOD.large.jpg" /></a><p>With the growing movement to normalize breastfeeding, it's become quite the trend to post nursing selfies on social media, but when your newborn baby gets to a certain age, those snaps tend to stop popping up. </p>
<p>But for photographer Jade Beall, who is still practicing <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Why-Moms-Breastfeed-Longer-Than-Year-27332731" >"extended breastfeeding"</a> with her 3-and-a-half-year-old son, she doesn't see why those images can't continue. </p>
<p>"I admit that I never breastfeed my son in public anymore," she wrote in a caption of a bold <span class="nobrand">self-portrait</span> of herself breastfeeding her preschool-aged child on Facebook. "I feel like somehow I would be committing a criminal act when all I am doing is providing comfort and nourishment for my son. I see that with my discomfort in breastfeeding my son in public these days that there is a whole new way for me to promote and support feminism."</p>
<p>Beall - known for her work in photographing <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Photos-Postbaby-Bodies-34729533#photo-34729762" >real women's postbaby bodies</a> - posted the image and shared a few other angles in an attempt to create a dialogue. </p>
<p>"If this offends you, ask me a question rather than call me names," she implored. "Let's learn from one another. Let's be fee from fear of our differences and let's be filled with curiosity and compassion!"</p>
<p>And offend some it has. Although it's garnered <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JadeBeallPhotography/photos/pb.193035750743906.-2207520000.1438094928./899986773382130/?type=3&amp;src=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-xaf1%2Ft31.0-8%2F11741016_899986773382130_5994694120012801139_o.jpg&amp;smallsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-xtf1%2Fv%2Ft1.0-9%2F11745479_899986773382130_5994694120012801139_n.jpg%3Foh%3D608101a122c6cd26931d55fe3dd5d4dc%26oe%3D565B1A45&amp;size=1366%2C2048&amp;fbid=899986773382130" target="_blank">nearly 10,000 "likes" on Facebook</a>, commenters call it "horrifying," "selfish," and "lazy." Some even suggest she be reported to authorities for "a child sex crime."</p>
<p>Still, Beall stands by her image and quells most of the naysayers' negativity with honesty. She explained that "absolutey (sp) nothing soothes him better" and that she had tried "to wean him multiple times and I have at last surrendered to the flow of my relationship with my son."</p>
<p>And for those who were concerned full-term breastfeeding could lead to mental issues, she has a pretty impressive response: "My mother breastfed me until I was five, and I would have been proud of her to share her rad commitment to me had there been social media back in the '80s, and I grew up to be a pretty amazing woman and feminist that loves my parent."</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Extended-Breastfeeding-Photo-Controversy-37983572#commentLittle KidParenting NewsBreastfeedingParentingSun, 02 Aug 2015 11:41:00 PDTKate-Schweitzer37983572Extended Breastfeeding Photo Controversy9 Safe Sunscreens For Kids (Including Some You Can Find at Your Drugstore)http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Safest-Sunscreens-Babies-Kids-17218020
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Safest-Sunscreens-Babies-Kids-17218020"><img width="120" height="160" src="http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/05/28/822/n/1922398/b6525a6f_edit_img_cover_file_845231_1432039320_Moms-SafeSunscretk5vBL.large.png" /></a><p>Slather on the lotion! If you thought the breast vs. bottle debate was polarizing, wait until you talk to fellow playground moms about sunscreen. Though lotions and sticks protect little ones' skin from cancer-causing UVA and UVB rays, doctors advise new mamas to use physical barriers - SPF clothing, umbrellas, and shades - rather than lotions on babies younger than 6 months old.</p>
<p>Once tots reach the 6-month mark, keep them protected from the sun without harming them in other ways. The Environmental Working Group's recommendations for the <a href="http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/" target="_blank">best sunscreens for tots</a> - products that do not contain potential hormone disruptors - is considered the definitive list of safe options. The group recommends staying away from spray-on lotions and powders, as well as those containing oxybenzone or vitamin A. At the top of its list are sunscreens using zinc or titanium for the best UVA/UVB protection without the use of such harmful chemicals. Click through to see nine of its top picks (many of which can be found at your local drugstore - not just at specialty stores).</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Safest-Sunscreens-Babies-Kids-17218020#commentHealth and FitnessSummerEcoSunscreenSun, 02 Aug 2015 10:29:00 PDTRebecca-M-Gruber17218020The Safest Sunscreens For Babies and KidsThese Brutally Honest Parenting Comics Will Crack You Uphttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Hilarious-Comics-Illustrate-Universal-Parenting-Struggles-37992630
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Hilarious-Comics-Illustrate-Universal-Parenting-Struggles-37992630"><img width="128" height="160" src="http://media4.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/07/29/731/n/1922398/e2000f35_edit_img_cover_file_37992630_1438185413_song_lyricsBZJdrB.large.png" /></a><p>Brian Gordon - a cartoonist and dad of two - has been making fun of being a parent since he became one. In an attempt to keep himself sane and bond with other parents, he is shamelessly creating funny-because-it's-true <a href="http://www.fowllanguagecomics.com/" target="_blank">parenting comics</a> - and we can't stop laughing at them.</p>
<p>As soon as he brought his first child home from the hospital, Brian convinced himself that he was the worst parent ever, that is, until he started sharing his insecurities with other parents, who completely identified with his struggles. From there on, he decided to start documenting anything and everything about parenting - from being exhausted to being spit-up on for the hundredth time - through cartoons, and it's now his favorite thing to do.</p>
<p>"Being a parent can be incredibly frustrating, and I think sharing those frustrations and laughing with other parents is the best thing we can do to keep each other sane," Brian told us.</p>
<p>Read through to see some of Brian's hilarious comics, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/fowllanguage?ty=h" target="_blank">become a patron of his work</a> to see behind-the-scenes strips and more, shop his designs at <a href="http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsociety6.com%2Ffowllanguagecomics&pid=shopstyle" target="_blank">Society6</a> and <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fowllanguagecomics" target="_blank">Zazzle</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FowlLanguageComics" target="_blank">visit him</a> regularly for new comics.</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Hilarious-Comics-Illustrate-Universal-Parenting-Struggles-37992630#commentStaying SaneParenting HumorSun, 02 Aug 2015 09:21:00 PDTAlessia-Santoro37992630Hilarious Comics Illustrate Universal Parenting StrugglesRecall Alert! Hold the Kraft Singles on the Next Grilled Cheese You Make Your Littlehttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Kraft-American-Singles-Recall-Alert-38016186
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Kraft-American-Singles-Recall-Alert-38016186"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media2.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/08/02/676/n/24155406/7b22d5ab_edit_img_image_16442351_1438526863.large.jpg" /></a><small class="source">Source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeepersmedia/14915089430/in/photolist-oHZJsj-oJ18QP-oHZqDH-p1veG9-oJ3fhK-oJ3zVa-p1uTzA-oYvfmm-oJ3e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flickr user Mike Mozart</a></small></p>
<p>Check your fridge before your kiddo asks you for his next grilled cheese - Kraft has issued a <a href="http://newscenter.kraftfoodsgroup.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=253200&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=2073656" target="_blank">voluntary recall</a> on over 36,000 boxes of both American and White American cheese Singles with particular sell-by dates.</p>
<p>The popular individually-wrapped cheese slices are posing a potential choking hazard, as the batches in question have been reported to retain a small strip of wrapping plastic. Ten consumer complaint reports have been filed, and in three cases, consumers have choked on the small piece of packaging film. The company is recalling the boxes of cheese based on the "Best When Used By" date code on the packaging:</p>
<ul>
<li>4-pound box, Kraft American Singles - with sell-by dates between December 29, 2015 - January 1, 2016 (code after date reads S54 or S55)</li>
<li>3-pound box, Kraft American Singles - with sell-by dates between December 29, 2015 - January 4, 2016 (code after date reads S54 or S55)</li>
<li>4-pound box, Kraft White American Singles - with sell-by dates between January 2, 2016 - January 3, 2016 (code after date reads S54 or S55)</li>
<li>3-pound box, Kraft White American Singles - with a sell-by date of January 2, 2016 (code after date reads S54 or S55)</li>
</ul>
<small class="source">Source: <a href="http://newscenter.kraftfoodsgroup.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=253200&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=2073656" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kraft</a></small></p>
<p>If you have any of the listed packages of cheese, Kraft is urging consumers not to eat it, but to return the items to the store they were purchased at for a full refund. Customers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico may also call Kraft Heinz Consumer Relations for their refund at 1-800-432-3101, Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm ET.</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Kraft-American-Singles-Recall-Alert-38016186#commentHealth and SafetyFood RecallKraftRecallSun, 02 Aug 2015 08:24:14 PDTAlessia-Santoro38016186Kraft American Singles Recall AlertYour Kid Will Walk Down to the Cafeteria in Style With Any of These 50 Lunch Bagshttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Lunch-Boxes-Kids-35350356
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Lunch-Boxes-Kids-35350356"><img width="106" height="160" src="http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/07/29/857/n/1922398/e42a1db6_edit_img_cover_file_16442351_1437070200_patrick-moms-cRlJ9IX.large.jpg" /></a><p>Learning is fun, but everybody knows that lunchtime is the best part of the school day. We wrangled up some of the most adorable and functional lunch bags for you to pack your kid's daily eats into - there's something for everyone! With any of these 50 lunch boxes, your kid will be walking down to the cafeteria in style.</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Lunch-Boxes-Kids-35350356#commentKid ShoppingSchool SuppliesLunch BoxesBack to SchoolSun, 02 Aug 2015 08:14:00 PDTAlessia-Santoro35350356Lunch Boxes For KidsTo the Parents I Judged Before I Was a Parent: I'm Sorryhttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/People-Who-Judge-Parents-36585681
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/People-Who-Judge-Parents-36585681"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/01/21/111/n/24155406/d1b95e6f_edit_img_image_15954533_1421355200_thumb.large.jpg" /></a>
<p>There I was, a 30-year-old woman who taught preschool and was a private tutor, walking down the aisles at Target when I saw her.</p>
<p>She was a woman with a toddler - no older than 3 - and in the middle of Winter her toddler was gasp - <i>Not. Wearing. Shoes</i>! He just hung out in the shopping cart with his dangling <i>freezing</i> tootsies.</p>
<p>It's Winter, I thought. What is she thinking? I made my silent smug judgment, picked up my one item I went into Target for, although I left with 50 other things, and walked away knowing I would never do that!</p>
<p>Not me, I said.</p>
<p>It was a lovely Summer night, and I was out to dinner at a romantic location with my ex who was my husband at the time. Sitting at a table next to us was a family of three: a wife, husband, and a 4-year-old girl. She was adorable but utterly loud. No amount of preschool experience could help me tune out this kid. Waiters thought she was cute, but me? Nope. She was my nemesis. All I wanted was to enjoy a glass of wine and some penne pasta, but this kid with her yammering was ruining the "mood" I was trying to set with the hubby. <i>Eye roll</i>.</p>
<p>I started to daydream of how I could entice this kid out of the restaurant. Maybe dangle Mickey Mouse on a fishing pole out the door? Tell her Santa Claus was in the parking lot. </p>
<p>Why do people have to bring their kids to regular adult restaurants? I told the husband. Why can't they go to Friendly's or Pizza Hut? Don't they know better?</p>
<p>I'd never do that. Not me.</p>
<p>Oh, the smugness! The ignorance!</p>
<p>Let's not forget the spectacular backseat parenting I did when you know, I had barely parented a Chia pet.</p>
<p>As I watched a mom shove a lollipop into her whiny kid's mouth while at the doctor's, I broke out my <i>Rules on How to Parent</i>.</p>
<p>"I'd never do that with my kid. Tell him to be quiet and redirect him. She's just trying to shut him up, but instead, she's spoiling him," I thought to myself.</p>
<p>That was said and done with an - <i>eek</i> - shake of my head.</p>
<p>I'd never do that. Not me.</p>
<p>Then there was the time one of the parents of my students told me, "Oh junior likes to sleep with us from time to time. Actually, pretty much every night. He's having a hard time getting out of our bed."</p>
<p>He's in kindergarten, I thought. It's time to cut the cord already. If I were <i>MOM OF THE YEAR</i>, I would give him the boot already. How do his parents have sex?</p>
<p>I'm never doing that, I thought.</p>
<p>In fact, just keep inserting ways I, the person who had never changed a diaper, silently judged (or sometimes not so silently) parents - whether it was about eating habits or clothing choices. Apparently, I had forgotten to tell the world that I knew everything about parenting.</p>
<p>Well, to the woman at Target, the wife and husband dining with their kid, the lollipop mom, cosleeping parents, and pretty much everyone I advised on what to do when I knew zilch about zilch:</p>
<p><b><i>I'm sorry!</i></b></p>
<p>There I was, in the middle of Target approximately four years after I witnessed the horrifying sight of a toddler's bare toes in the middle of the Winter, with my very own toddler dressed in a dress in the middle of last year's polar vortex. She had a coat on, but no hat. As I pulled up to pay for my items, an elderly lady touched my daughter's head (oh lady, don't you go there! Parenting pet peeve!) and said to me, "She needs a hat."</p>
<p>I'd like to tell you that I graciously smiled, but really I dreamed of choking that woman and telling her to go wear her own hat. Instead, I nodded and said, "Uh-huh," while paying for my goods.</p>
<p>You see, like many kids, my kid hates to be bundled up, which is something I didn't know when I was "Laura Know-It-All," and we had a major war over the hat and dress. I tried getting her to wear flannel-lined jeans and a hat. I actually prayed to the god (goddess) of Cinderella I was so desperate. After a screaming match and battle of the wills, I gave up.</p>
<p>Karma was a b*tch, indeed.</p>
<p>Not me? Oh, yes! Yes, me!</p>
<p>And four years after I saw that couple eating out at a romantic restaurant with their kid, there I was at an Italian restaurant, desperately hungry and dying to do something with other adult people. Of course, I didn't have anyone to watch my kid like so many other parents, so I did what I had to in order to converse with someone over 2 years of age: I brought <a href="http://www.shopstyle.co.uk/browse/My-Child" class="ss_inline_link auto_link_filter no_shopsense_url_rewrite" title="Shop for My Child" target="_blank">my child</a>. And what did she do?</p>
<p>She got up and danced and sang at high-decibel levels. No one seemed to mind that (I guess they weren't all a bunch of judgmental jerks like I was), but of course, my daughter mooned everyone at the end of "her song" to add more of a burlesque element to her show.</p>
<p>To the keeper of the universe: Ha ha - you really got me, didn't you?</p>
<p>Let's not forget the many times during my daughter's first year and a half of life in which I decided to not leave her in her bed, but instead, pop a boob in her mouth and bring her to sleep with me. Why? I was tired and lazy. Teething was a b*tch, and I was its slave.</p>
<p>There I was on my phone, telling my sister why I didn't think it was such a big deal to cosleep sometimes as she was telling me "Tisk-tisk, she'll want to stay in your bed forever."</p>
<p>Now at almost 4 years old, I still invite my little one to sleep with me as a special treat on the weekends from time to time, or when she wakes up early and this <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/New-Year-Resolutions-Single-Moms-36349530" >single divorced mommy</a> is too tired to parent. Instead, I let Mickey Mouse take my job, and we hang in bed while I sleep and she watches.</p>
<p>To the parent who I shook my head at and judged: who's the one with the full bed now? Hmm.</p>
<p>Let's not forget the time I brought my daughter into Victoria's Secret to pick up a bra because heaven forbid a mother shop with her child, and she ran around trying the bras on her head. Or when I brought her to the register and a young couple swooped down to say how cute she was, and as I told her to tell them hello, she yelled, "No!" and gave them a face only a mother could love.</p>
<p>(And trust me with that grimace it takes a lot of work to feel love for that mug!)</p>
<p>Or the time she decided to do a toddler-version exercise routine that only Richard Simmons could love in the middle of a busy Manhattan restaurant. To add insult to injury, it was a freezing-cold day out, and she didn't want to wear her coat. As I took her out of the restaurant coat-less, I saw the hostess' face wince.</p>
<p>And there I saw myself, just five years before. I wanted to grab her by the arm and whisper, "Your time is coming honey. Just you wait. One day, your kid will be flashing her 'boobies' at age 2 in the middle of Starbucks."</p>
<p>Of course, this time, I won't judge.</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/People-Who-Judge-Parents-36585681#commentPOPSUGAR VoicesContributor PostPersonal EssayParenting HumorSun, 02 Aug 2015 07:06:00 PDTLaura-L-Hernandez36585681People Who Judge ParentsA Month's Worth of No-Cook Dinners For the Whole Familyhttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/-Bake-Family-Dinners-30957128
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/-Bake-Family-Dinners-30957128"><img width="134" height="160" src="http://media3.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/05/28/129/n/1922398/205396dc_edit_img_cover_file_2215361_1406297981_Moms-NoCookDinnmuJCnk.large.png" /></a><p>In the midst of the dog days of Summer, the last thing we want to do is slave away in a hot kitchen. Skip the stove, skip the oven, and serve up one of these easy, heat-free meals instead. We've rounded up 30 kid-friendly, tasty, and healthy no-cook dinners to satisfy your family right through the end of August. Home-cooked without the hassle - what could be better?</p>
<p>And if you need a little something sweet to end the night with, we've got <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Kid-Friendly--Bake-Desserts-18695654" target="_blank">45 ideas for no-bake Summer desserts</a> - yum!</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/-Bake-Family-Dinners-30957128#commentNo-Cook DinnersFood and FunKid-Friendly RecipesSummerSun, 02 Aug 2015 06:01:00 PDTLisa-Horten30957128No-Bake Family Dinners20 Ways You Definitely Won't Screw Up Your Kidshttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Things-Wont-Mess-Up-Your-Kids-37051371
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Things-Wont-Mess-Up-Your-Kids-37051371"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media2.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/03/10/761/n/1922398/aa16293f_edit_img_cover_file_2215361_14260064718Bdsvu.large.jpg" /></a><p>As parenting editors, we're certainly guilty of <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Why-Kids-Narcissistic-37050009" >instigating a little healthy controversy</a> when it comes to sharing the latest - and sometimes contradictory - news and trends. To sleep train or not to sleep train; to sign them up for anything and everything or to let them entertain themselves; to rush back to work or to embrace the time at home . . . it can be absolutely exhausting. But the truth is, no matter your approach and no matter how many times you may feel like you're screwing up, we're willing to bet that you're a <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Signs-Youre-Good-Mom-34777895" >great mom</a>. Don't let the fact that you do any of these things once in a while make you think otherwise!</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Things-Wont-Mess-Up-Your-Kids-37051371#commentFamily HomeStaying SaneParentingSun, 02 Aug 2015 04:56:00 PDTLisa-Horten37051371Things That Won't Mess Up Your Kids5 Photos of Your Kids That You Shouldn't Post to Social Mediahttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Photos-You-Shouldnt-Post-Kids-Facebook-35841377
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Photos-You-Shouldnt-Post-Kids-Facebook-35841377"><img width="160" height="107" src="http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/2014/11/02/123/n/24155406/c9ff17fb246d5dea_thumb_temp_cover_file22153611414939064.large.jpg" /></a><p>If anyone knows how tempting it is to share our kids' hysterical, adorable, or unreal moments with our entire social networks, it's us. We get it. Proud parents want to shout their children's accomplishments - regardless of how big or small - from the (virtual) rooftop. But the <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/tech/What-Post-Facebook-35867815" >Internet is a vast and potentially scary place</a>, and it's our duty to protect our families. As nice as it would be if those privacy settings were a sufficient barrier, there are still caveats to every safety net that we have to be conscious of. Here, five times that parents should hold off on sharing their kids' snaps with the Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter-verse. </p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Photos-You-Shouldnt-Post-Kids-Facebook-35841377#commentKids Apps and GamesHealth and SafetyParentingSun, 02 Aug 2015 03:51:00 PDTLisa-Horten35841377Photos You Shouldn't Post of Kids on FacebookBugaboo's New Stroller Campaign Has Parents Up in Arms Because of What Its Model Isn't Wearinghttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Bugaboo-Ad-Featuring-Model-Bikini-37975699
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Bugaboo-Ad-Featuring-Model-Bikini-37975699"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media4.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/07/27/664/n/24155406/ca1b1dd7_edit_img_image_845231_1438006739.large.jpg" /></a><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;">
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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/5ZodJhQArk/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Wow doesn&#39;t model and mother of 2-year old Lymée, Ymre Stiekema look amazing in this @nlvogue shoot! Check out the Bugaboo Journal (link in bio) to read our interview with the real-life Bugaboo Runner. #runfree #bugaboorunner #bugaboo #style #fashion</a></p>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Bugaboo HQ (@bugaboohq) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-07-21T13:51:00+00:00">Jul 21, 2015 at 6:51am PDT</time></p>
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Full disclosure here: I used a Bugaboo stroller (the original Frog) for seven years and loved it. Not only that, the company flew me to Amsterdam several years ago to test their double stroller (the Donkey) before it was even available. But even with that brand loyalty, I was still shocked by the images the company recently posted on their social media accounts - and it seems I'm not the only one. </p>
<p>To celebrate the introduction of the company's first running stroller, Bugaboo partnered with Dutch supermodel Ymre Stiekema for a <b>Vogue Netherlands</b> photo shoot, and the company shared an image from it on their Facebook and Instagram pages. In it, Ymre is <a href="https://www.bugaboo.com/NL/en_NL/journal/article/2015-bugaboo-runner-ymre-stiekema" target="_blank">seen jogging while pushing her 2-year-old daughter in the Bugaboo Runner</a>. The problem? Check out Ymre's attire. The unbelievably fit model mom is wearing what can only be considered a tiny bikini and running shoes, not the basic running attire most athletes or moms typically wear. The image immediately set off a firestorm of comments, beginning with, "I often also jog in a bikini," and gaining momentum from there. Among the comments on Bugaboo's Instagram and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bugaboo/photos/a.89372585659.116981.73732120659/10153323837320660/?type=1" target="_blank">Facebook pages</a>, are:</p>
<ul>
<li>"So thaaaat's what I have been doing wrong.....I need to jog with my baby in a Bugaboo to get my beach body back."</li>
<li>"I'm a runner and a mom and a proud owner of six packs abs (please go check my account!) but, really? I never do this?!! LMAO"</li>
<li>"Can we get this pram... And some new bikinis for me?"</li>
<li>"maybe if we get an $800 stroller we'll look fit like her?!"</li>
<li>"I prefer running naked with my children."</li>
<li>"Really ladies? Are you that judgemental or jealous that you have to question what she is running in? Women should support each other not tear each other down because you feel inadequate. I would never get away with wearing that while I run, but great for her!"</li>
<li>"We mock what we are too lazy to achieve,,, self loathing women chiming in from everywhere to criticize physical fitness. Break out the ice cream girls, the jealousy meter is in the red zone...."</li>
</ul>
<p>Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that Bugaboo followed up the bikini-running post with one of a dad pushing his tot, but suffice it to say, the dad isn't wearing a <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/Speedo" class="ss_inline_link auto_link_filter no_shopsense_url_rewrite" title="Shop for Speedo" target="_blank">Speedo</a> or any revealing running gear.<br />
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<p>Our real-life athlete and Bugaboo Runner model Kevin Dorsey talks about running to feel free together with daughter...</p>
<p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bugaboo" target="_blank">Bugaboo</a> on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bugaboo/videos/10153326444420660/" target="_blank">Wednesday, July 22, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Which brings us to our point. Is the outrage over the ad due to sexism and unrealistic expectations of mothers' bodies? Or is it just plain jealousy? Vote below and tell us why you feel the way you do!</p>
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</script>http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Bugaboo-Ad-Featuring-Model-Bikini-37975699#commentParenting NewsPostpartum BodiesBugabooSun, 02 Aug 2015 02:44:00 PDTRebecca-M-Gruber37975699Bugaboo Ad Featuring Model in BikiniWhy You Should Resolve to Live For the Moment, Not the Instagram Posthttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Why-Moms-Should-Live-Moment-36285224
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Why-Moms-Should-Live-Moment-36285224"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media2.popsugar-assets.com/files/2014/12/16/899/n/24155406/29562d121b44e84c_thumb_temp_image22153611418754308.large.jpg" /></a>
<p>Let's be honest here: that trip you took to the mall to meet Santa last weekend . . . was it more for your miffed 7-month-old or to share with your social media entourage? If you fall in the latter category, (A) It's OK, and (B) You're not alone. So many parenting moments that were once reserved for immediate family and perhaps a close friend or two have become glorified through the lens of an Instagram filter or Facebook feed with the requisite clever hashtags. And while it's certainly fun to share your proudest moments with friends, at some point, we can't help but feel we're creating memories for social media rather than living in the moment. Here, a few reasons to ditch the smartphone on your next outing with the family - or at least leave it in your back pocket:</p>
<ol>
<li><b>You're missing out</b>: When you're tied up with finding the right emoji and outwitting your BFF with the perfect #hilarioushashtag, what you're not doing is kicking back and living in the moment with your kids. We understand the importance of capturing memories on camera, but you may want to consider holding off on that social media share until you're back in the car or it's naptime.</li>
<li><b>You're setting the wrong example</b>: How are you going to tell your kids to cool it on their tech usage when you're the most addicted one in the whole family? Be a good role model by leading by example - there's a time and place for technology, and it's not 24/7.</li>
<li><b>You're creating unnecessary stress</b>: Your day-to-day life is hectic enough, right? Whether you're on vacation, at the museum, or making pancakes for your family, give yourself a break from the constant check-ins, comparisons, and general inundation with nonessential information. Ahhh . . . doesn't that feel better?!</li>
<li><b>It may not be intentional, but you're being competitive:</b> All you meant to do was share that one photo of the kids clowning around, right? But the next thing you know, you're learning that your childless girlfriends went out for drinks without you last night, your next-door neighbor got a <i>serious</i> new handbag for the holidays, and your cousin's 1-year-old is up and running while yours is content to crawl. Stop the madness! It's in your control.</li>
<li><b>You'll inevitably become sidetracked:</b> Go ahead, try to have a meaningful conversation while simultaneously scrolling through Facebook. Just try. It's impossible! Sure, you can respond with "yes" and "no" answers and give a half-hearted nod, but doesn't your family deserve more attention than the link that your 7th grade crush shared?</li>
</ol>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Why-Moms-Should-Live-Moment-36285224#commentFamily LifeStaying SaneSocial MediaNew Year's ResolutionsParentingSun, 02 Aug 2015 01:32:00 PDTLisa-Horten36285224Why Moms Should Live in the MomentThis Hilarious Video of Parenting Expectations vs. Reality Will Remind You to Embrace the Chaoshttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Parenting-Expectations-vs-Reality-37983432
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Parenting-Expectations-vs-Reality-37983432"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media3.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/07/28/668/n/24155406/70d1aef9_edit_img_image_37983432_1438095017.large.jpg" /></a><div class='sugar-embed-player'><div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-video" data-allowfullscreen="1" data-href="/StoryofThisAndersonLife/videos/vb.675881462529347/818621491588676/?type=1"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/StoryofThisAndersonLife/videos/818621491588676/"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/StoryofThisAndersonLife/videos/818621491588676/">When We Have Kids</a><p>Remember when you thought you had it all figured out? https://www.facebook.com/Munchkin</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StoryofThisAndersonLife">Story of This Life</a> on Tuesday, July 28, 2015</blockquote></div></div></div><p>Way before your first pregnancy test shows two pink lines, you'll likely have an idea of how you're going to raise your child, what their personality is going to be like, and what you're going to do for them - like make organic baby food from scratch - <i>no matter what</i>. Once you have your first child, though, things might look a little bit . . . different.</p>
<p>In this sweet and silly video from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StoryofThisAndersonLife" target="_blank">the Andersons</a> called, "When We Have Kids," the idealistic couple is shown two years in the past outlining exactly what they expect from their baby-on-the-way - while flashes from the present completely contradict everything they say.</p>
<p>The video is funny but rings true - you can't plan for everything and you can't <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Things-Moms-Shouldnt-Feel-Guilty-About-35557517" >beat yourself up</a> when your expectations don't exactly become reality. Watch the video to see the Andersons illustrate that sometimes parenting is a roller coaster that you just have to hop on and ride.</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Parenting-Expectations-vs-Reality-37983432#commentParenting VideosParenting HumorFunnyParentingSat, 01 Aug 2015 12:33:00 PDTAlessia-Santoro37983432Parenting Expectations vs. Reality4 Tips For Dealing With a Sassy Childhttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Fix-Child-Attitude-Problem-27333894
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Fix-Child-Attitude-Problem-27333894"><img width="149" height="160" src="http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/2014/08/25/854/n/24155406/db6539f7f5726c77_thumb_temp_image37150251368212400.large.jpg" /></a>
<p>Verbal defiance from a toddler who is just beginning to test limits is relatively easy to take in stride, but many parents are unnerved when bigger kids talk back. As Amanda P. shares, it's not only irritating, but downright disrespectful: "My 7-year-old thinks he can <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/parenting-debates-hot-topics/what-do-you-use-for-your-older-children-when-they-mouth-off-603343" target="_self">smart-mouth</a> us whenever he wants, and that it's fine for him to be disrespectful, especially to me."</p>
<p>Seeking suggestions from the community, Amanda asks, "What do you guys use for a disrespectful child? I don't want to sit back and do nothing only [to see] this escalate into something bad. Any advice?" </p>
<p>First, take a deep breath so that you don't wind up arguing back, say our moms. Then, try these four tips for taming the sass.</p>
<h2>1. Model and Explain Respectful Behavior</h2>
<p>The first step in quieting a mouthy child is to <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/kids-aged-over-10yrs-old./how-do-u-handle-cheeky-and-rude-12-year-olds-271579" target="_self">teach respect</a>. Because children learn by example, it's important for moms to model respectful behavior - with their children and with other adults. After all, a member named Kathy says, you can't expect your child to <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/parenting-debates-hot-topics/what-do-you-use-for-your-older-children-when-they-mouth-off-603343/4" target="_self">be courteous </a>if you're not.</p>
<p>For Rebecca N. and a mom named Kat, teaching respect means showing it to your children first by listening and then calmly and repeatedly explaining why the behavior is rude. Rebecca recommends attempting to empathize with your child and trying to find out what's bothering her to get at the root cause of the impolite behavior. But do not respond aggressively, Rebecca warns. If your child gets a rise out of you, it can reinforce the obnoxiousness. </p>
<p>"Be patient and try to explain your side rationally," Kat adds. "I guarantee that if you <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/young-moms-aged-20-30/mouthy-8-yr-old-how-do-i-stop-it-358896/4" target="_self">offer [your child] respect</a>, she's more likely to return it."</p>
<p>Tara H. and Tammy V. both suggest showing your child how to <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/young-moms-aged-20-30/mouthy-8-yr-old-how-do-i-stop-it-358896/3" target="_self">rephrase rude remarks</a>. For example, when her daughter says, "I'm not going to clean my room," Tammy instead teaches her daughter to say, "I don't want to clean my room because I'm too tired right now. May I please do it tomorrow?"</p>
<p>Assuming you have taught your child how to treat and talk to others respectfully, then in all likelihood your big kid knows that it's not nice to use a sassy tone or to say mean things. The best thing you can do when your child talks back is remind her who she is speaking to, talk with her, and allow her to talk to you, too, to make sure she understands why her behavior isn't acceptable, say moms Kandie K. and Kat P. "The point is to let her know that no matter how [she] feels about something, she needs to <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/young-moms-aged-20-30/mouthy-8-yr-old-how-do-i-stop-it-358896/3" target="_self">respect her parents</a> and obey them," Kat says.</p>
<h2>2. Give and Take Time-Outs</h2>
<p>Past the preschool years, children may have trouble managing both their personalities and hormones. <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/kids-aged-over-10yrs-old./how-do-u-handle-cheeky-and-rude-12-year-olds-271579" target="_self">Sassiness sometimes results from built-up anger and frustrations</a>, "and unfortunately, as parents, we often get the brunt of their frustrations," says Jennifer S. So if you find that anger is building, it helps to take a time-out. "I will tell [my children] that they've pushed me too far and I think we both need a break before we say things we shouldn't and make the situation worse," Jennifer says.</p>
<p>Taking a time-out and <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/young-moms-aged-20-30/mouthy-8-yr-old-how-do-i-stop-it-358896" target="_self">ignoring backtalk</a> can often silence smart-mouthed remarks, because your child "will figure out real quick that sassing doesn't work when it doesn't get your attention or change the circumstances," Stefanie S. explains.</p>
<p>The important thing after tempers have cooled, however, is to quickly find the time to talk about the situation and make sure to listen to your children, Jennifer says. "Often, if I acknowledge my kid's frustrations/issues/feelings, it helps," Jennifer notes. Then use that calmer moment to firmly communicate that parents deserve respect and that there are consequences for impertinence.</p>
<p>Theresa D. agrees with this approach, noting that she gives <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/moms-with-school-age-kids/what-to-do-when-my-kids-smart-mouth-me-379960" target="_self">time-outs when tempers flare</a> and her daughter acts up. As a result, her daughter now knows that there are consequences for sassing and has learned that losing her temper gets her nowhere.</p>
<h2>3. Offer Punishments and Rewards</h2>
<p>To reinforce the notion that parents deserve respect, parents can use both <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/welcome-to-circle-of-moms/i-have-a-13-year-old-girl-who-has-been-treating-me-horribly-492280" target="_self">carrots and sticks</a>, say readers. When Sarah K.'s daughter is insolent, she loses privileges like being able to go out with friends or use the computer.</p>
<p>Similarly, a lack of respect from Jodi's 13-year-old son will lead to TV restrictions. And both Kathy B. and Abby C. <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/young-moms-aged-20-30/mouthy-8-yr-old-how-do-i-stop-it-358896" target="_self">ground their children</a>. This usually translates into not being able to hang out with friends after school or skipping ballet practice. </p>
<p>Which privilege to remove depends on the particular child. The key to effectiveness, says Jodi, is to "<a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/parenting-debates-hot-topics/what-do-you-use-for-your-older-children-when-they-mouth-off-603343" target="_self">find out your child's 'currency'</a> - what is most valuable to him." For some, it's a favorite hoodie; for others, access to the hair straightener. </p>
<p>Some moms prefer to offer <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/parenting-debates-hot-topics/what-do-you-use-for-your-older-children-when-they-mouth-off-603343" target="_blank">rewards to encourage better behavior</a>. Amy K. uses ice cream, books, and inexpensive toys.</p>
<h2>4. Be Consistent and Patient</h2>
<p>Regardless of your approach, your <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/young-moms-aged-20-30/mouthy-8-yr-old-how-do-i-stop-it-358896" target="_self">reinforcement</a> of it must be consistent, readers advise. Once you start letting things slide, you'll start to see the return of smart-alecky behavior, warns Angelique G.</p>
<p>Barb S. echoes this point, noting both that your child needs to know that "every time he smarts off, this is what is going to happen" and also that being this consistent can be hard. The reason? You'll feel like a broken record, <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/parenting-debates-hot-topics/what-do-you-use-for-your-older-children-when-they-mouth-off-603343" target="_self">repeatedly redirecting disrespectful behavior</a>. But as Linda J. recalls of her child's "snotty stage," standing your ground and hanging in for the ride will pay off: "My 14-year-old has gotten much better . . . We have to remember that they all go through a lot of <a href="http://www.circleofmoms.com/kids-aged-over-10yrs-old./how-do-u-handle-cheeky-and-rude-12-year-olds-271579" target="_self">stress changing from little kids to young adults</a>."</p>
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http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Fix-Child-Attitude-Problem-27333894#commentTween and TeenBehavior TipsParenting StrategiesBig KidDisciplineMannersBack to SchoolSat, 01 Aug 2015 11:41:00 PDTPatricia-Anne-Tom27333894Fix a Child's Attitude ProblemReasons I'm Happy I'm a Parent, Not a Kid, in 2015http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Parenting-2015-37295738
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Parenting-2015-37295738"><img width="160" height="120" src="http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/04/17/936/n/1922398/8c821698_edit_img_cover_file_845231_1429299666_mainYxc3Xf.large.jpg" /></a><p>While there are many reasons I look back on my childhood and cringe (spiral perms, anyone?), I'm really glad I'm not growing up in 2015, and here's why.</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Parenting-2015-37295738#commentContributor PostParenting HumorParentingSat, 01 Aug 2015 10:29:00 PDTBrooke-Kravitz37295738Parenting in 201543 Popsicle Recipes to Keep Your Kiddos Cool All Summer Longhttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Popsicle-Recipes-Kids-23675925
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Popsicle-Recipes-Kids-23675925"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media4.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/06/30/848/n/1922398/2c824be4_edit_img_cover_file_2215361_1434288120_Popsicle-Recipe75Nzej.large.jpg" /></a><p>On the hottest days, nothing sounds more appealing than an icy-cold popsicle. A warm-weather favorite of grown-ups and little ones alike, we've rounded up 43 recipes that are especially kid-friendly. From the supremely simple, like easy strawberry-banana pops, to the unexpected and exotic - coconut bubble tea, anyone?! - there's something for everyone.</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Popsicle-Recipes-Kids-23675925#commentFood and FunKid-Friendly RecipesPopsiclesSummerSat, 01 Aug 2015 09:21:00 PDTAlessia-Santoro23675925Popsicle Recipes For KidsThe 10 States With the Worst School Systemshttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Best-Worst-States-School-37986454
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Best-Worst-States-School-37986454"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media4.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/07/28/937/n/24155406/59a6d7ea_edit_img_image_14433127_1438116475_school-th.large.jpg" /></a>
<p>If you're like most modern parents, you probably agonized over which school district you'd be able to send your kids to. But did you ever stop to think about how the state your school district is in stacks up against the rest? </p>
<p>Turns out, one of the best schools in California might not measure up to a mediocre one in Illinois. A middle-of-the-road school in Kentucky might be a better environment than a sought-after one in New York. <a href="http://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-schools/5335/" target="_blank">WalletHub</a>, a leading personal finance site, just released findings from an in-depth study of the nation's school systems, and, after comparing the overall quality of education using more than a dozen key metrics, they determined a definitive ranking of the 50 states.</p>
<p>Massachusetts led the U.S., while Alaska bottomed out the list. How were these states scored? Obvious data, like standardized-test scores, were factored into the results, as were teacher-student ratios, dropout rates, the amount of recorded bullying incidents, and crime statistics. </p>
<p><b>The 10 States With the Best Schools</b></p>
<ol>
<li>Massachusetts</p>
<li>Colorado
<li>New Jersey
<li>Wisconsin
<li>Kentucky
<li>Vermont
<li>North Dakota
<li>Minnesota
<li>Connecticut
<li>Illinois</ol>
<p><b>The 10 States With the Worst Schools</b></p>
<ol reversed>
<li>New Mexico</p>
<li>California
<li>West Virginia
<li>South Carolina
<li>Oregon
<li>Louisiana
<li>Arizona
<li>Nevada
<li>District of Columbia
<li>Alaska</ol>
<p>Regardless of where your state ranks overall (the <a href="http://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-schools/5335/" target="_blank">complete list can be found at WalletHub</a>), you'll want to see how it fares on the individual categories. Some highlights:</p>
<ul>
<li>For those wanting more one-on-one attention between student and teacher, Vermont has the nation beat. Its pupil-student ratio was twice as low as California, which had the most kids per educator. </p>
<li>Wisconsin houses the safest schools, while Arkansas had the highest percentage of students who reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property at least once in the past year.
<li>In North Dakota, the average SAT test score is 40% higher than in District of Columbia.
<li>The percentage of high school graduates who completed an AP exam in high school is four times higher in the District of Columbia than in Mississippi.
<li>Vermont school systems have the biggest expenditures while Utah spends the least of any state.
<li>Florida students have the least to fear when it comes to bullying, but Montana saw the highest amount of students who were targets of online bullies.
<li>The District of Columbia's dropout rate is four times higher than Iowa's.</ul>
<p>You might think that there's not a lot you can do if you happen to be living in one of the low-ranking states - aside from packing up and moving the whole family to, say, Boston or Boulder. </p>
<p>"By shining the spotlight on top-performing school systems," the WalletHub <a href="http://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-schools/5335/#ask-the-experts" target="_blank">team of experts</a> stated in a release, "we aim to encourage parents to help their children realize their maximum potential and to call the attention of lawmakers on the work that remains to be done to improve America's schools."</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Best-Worst-States-School-37986454#commentParenting NewsBack to SchoolSat, 01 Aug 2015 08:14:00 PDTKate-Schweitzer37986454Best and Worst States for SchoolParents Who Post: What Was Shared vs. What Really Happenedhttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Dont-Believe-Everything-You-See-Social-Media-35330954
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Dont-Believe-Everything-You-See-Social-Media-35330954"><img width="160" height="92" src="http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/2014/07/25/045/n/24155406/58bd8eb854d51f90_thumb_temp_cover_file153094171406313305.large.jpg" /></a><p>I like to browse Facebook as much as the next stay-at-home mama, but in order to enjoy myself, I do have to remember that it's not really <i>real</i>. I don't need to tell you that Instagram and Facebook are inundated with happy posts of happy children and seemingly happy families, which leave many of us thinking, "Wow, they always seems so happy! What's wrong with me [my kids, my husband, my dog . . . ]?" Just remember, social media provides a very skewed reality of parenting. In fact, imagining what might really be going on behind the camera helps a lot, so here are a few (completely made-up, by the way) scenarios that you may find in your news feed - and then what probably actually happened. </p>
<p><small class="source">Source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/edmdusty/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flickr user Dustin Jensen</a></small></p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Dont-Believe-Everything-You-See-Social-Media-35330954#commentShutterbugParenting HumorSat, 01 Aug 2015 07:06:00 PDTDenise-Stirk35330954Don't Believe Everything You See on Social Media100 Free Ways to Keep Your Kids Busy This Summerhttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Free-Things-Do-Kids-Summer-35141925
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Free-Things-Do-Kids-Summer-35141925"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media4.popsugar-assets.com/files/2014/07/03/672/n/24155406/4d8801ee97b04887_thumb_temp_image22153611404396966.large.jpg" /></a>
<small class="source">Source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lotzman/4827580004/in/photolist-p4bYm-bUJR7n-8AmCbH-8Ammve-8ApCts-8AneJD-8ApHiq-9aoWMY-9ap251-a6Y1ys-8t38k3-8fvJgY-5hMs6b-8uCeK4-8uFcHY-8uFfYb-8uFkCC-8uCfMi-8uFgSL-8uFe3A-8uFbJq-8uFi4C-8uFhkN-8uFgfG-8uC6d6-8uFjff-8uFa6w-8uFbiS-8uCaSX-8uFgzf-8uFaMo-8uFip7-8uCb7D-8uFfzE-8uC91V-8uFjyw-8uCdFZ-8uCmF2-8uFdqG-563JWF-9NdtrG-8mgdyQ-8md4y2-bXcTCT-8mABm1-6KRZ6d-82HBac-94NBxd-6htTSh-6dY2qJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flickr user Lotzman Katzman</a></small></p>
<p>Even if you have already booked a great family getaway and are halfway through Summer camp, there are guaranteed to be afternoons when your kids simply need something (anything!) to keep them busy. And while outings to the zoo and water park are all but guaranteed to be easy wins, those $15 (or more) entry fees add up. We've come up with 100 of our favorite ways to keep the kiddos busy both indoors and out this Summer - without spending a dime! Without further adieu . . . </p>
<ol>
<li>Have a movie marathon.</li>
<li>Volunteer at a children's hospital, senior center, soup kitchen, or park.</li>
<li>Build a fort.</li>
<li>Go on a neighborhood scavenger hunt.</li>
<li>Make a backyard obstacle course.</li>
<li>Turn on the sprinklers for some good old-fashioned Summer fun.</li>
<li>Write a letter to grandparents.</li>
<li>Clean out the playroom and donate unwanted toys.</li>
<li>Write a family newsletter.</li>
<li>Play a kid-friendly game of <b>Iron Chef</b> with ingredients that you have on hand.</li>
<small class="source">Source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonywl/311170754/sizes/o/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flickr user tony's pics</a></small></p>
<li>Bake cookies.</li>
<li>Feed the ducks at a nearby pond.</li>
<li>Blow BIG bubbles!</li>
<li>Head to the library.</li>
<li>Make art in the park.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bowtiecinemas.com/" target="_blank">Bow Tie Cinemas</a> and <a href="http://www.phoenixtheatres.com/" target="_blank">Phoenix Big Cinemas</a> are both showing free kids' flicks this Summer. Check out their websites for locations, dates, and more details.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Rainy-Day-Activities-Kids-23437274#photo-23558784" target="_blank">Make your own play dough</a> - there's a good chance that you already have all of the ingredients at home.</li>
<li>Celebrate Christmas in July. Bake cookies, and play Christmas music. Heck, you can even take down the ornaments from storage and pick an outdoor tree to decorate (though the neighbors may wonder what's up).</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Rainy-Day-Activities-Kids-23437274#photo-23962796" target="_blank">Decoupage an old piece of furniture</a> to create something new.</li>
<li>Go on a hike.</li>
<small class="source">Source: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/99945409/lemonade-stand-photography-prop-banner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">N Hayes Designs</a></small></p>
<li>Drive to the nearest public beach. We don't need to tell you what to do next.</li>
<li>Choose a book (or even a series) to read together as a family.</li>
<li>Create (and bury!) a <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Rainy-Day-Activities-Kids-23437274#photo-23618365" target="_blank">time capsule</a>.</li>
<li>Score a free pass to your local roller rink courtesy of <a href="http://www.kidsskatefree.com" target="_blank">Kids Skate Free</a>.</li>
<li>Have a picnic.</li>
<li>Get out your favorite family board games.</li>
<li>Create a <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Rainy-Day-Activities-Kids-23437274#photo-23962730" target="_blank">vacation memory jar</a> - a cool alternative to the (real or Facebook) photo album.</li>
<li>Make your own <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Popsicle-Recipes-Kids-23675925" target="_blank">ice pops</a>!</li>
<small class="source">Source: <a href="http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=240959402&pid=shopstyle" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Williams-Sonoma</a></small></p>
<li>Have a family talent show.</li>
<li>Go stargazing.</li>
<li>Master <a href="http://moms.popsugar.com/Educational-Summer-Activites-34967892#photo-34967901" >Minecraft</a> - it combines that screen time your kids adore with many educational components.</li>
<li>Surprise a neighbor or someone who could use a pick-me-up with a random act of kindness (cookies, a visit, an easy chore . . . ).</li>
<li>Learn a <a href="http://moms.popsugar.com/Foreign-Language-Apps-33134119" >foreign language</a>.</li>
<li>Make a <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Rainy-Day-Activities-Kids-23437274#photo-25522391" target="_blank">life-size paper doll</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.kidsmealdeals.com/" target="_blank">Go out to eat for free</a> - really! Search restaurants in your area with free meal deals for the kiddos.</li>
<li>Go birdwatching (download a cheat sheet online or borrow a book from the library for some guidance).</li>
<li>Make a family tree.</li>
<li>Play school (because you know a tiny part of them is missing it!).</li>
<li>Go for a bike ride.</li>
<li>Check out one of The Home Depot's free <a href="http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops" target="_blank">workshops for kids</a>. They happen the first Saturday of every month, from 9 a.m. to noon, in stores across the country.</li>
<small class="source">Source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/boudewijnberends/4745425727/in/photolist-8ekxJX-az3v2P-tvCmC-tvzKu-2TwZ9i-6HG3Kk-519ypo-fbQZE-51mV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flickr user Boudewijn Berends</a></small></p>
<li>Build a campfire and make s'mores.</li>
<li>Write poems.</li>
<li>Make a <a href="http://moms.popsugar.com/Kid-Friendly-Crafts-34458881#photo-34459103" >popsicle-stick puzzle</a>.</li>
<li>Plant a vegetable or herb garden.</li>
<li>Let the kids be in charge of the dinner menu.</li>
<li>Spend a day at work with Mom or Dad.</li>
<li>Take a free <a href="http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.williams-sonoma.com%2Fpages%2Fstore-events%2Fstore-events%2Fjunior-chef-classes.html&pid=shopstyle" target="_blank">Junior Chef class</a> at your local <a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/Williams-Sonoma" class="ss_inline_link auto_link_filter no_shopsense_url_rewrite" title="Shop for Williams-Sonoma" target="_blank">Williams-Sonoma</a>.</li>
<li>Glam up <a href="http://moms.popsugar.com/Kid-Friendly-Crafts-34458881#photo-34459170" >old sunglasses with a DIY twist</a>.</li>
<li>Plow through your kids' creations together. Toss what they don't want, and transform the <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Displaying-Kids-Artwork-22690191" target="_blank">best of the best into a masterfully curated gallery</a>.</li>
<li>Give them a shovel and let them dig a giant hole. Seriously.</li>
<small class="source">Source: <a href="http://www.thinkstock.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thinkstock</a></small></p>
<li>Fingerpaint.</li>
<li>Play flashlight games.</li>
<li>Take advantage of free museum days in your area.</li>
<li>Let them help out with yard work (fun <i>and</i> productive!).</li>
<li>Have a lemonade stand.</li>
<li>Unleash your <a href="http://moms.popsugar.com/Science-Projects-Kids-34280720" >inner scientist</a>.</li>
<li>Go retro with <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Rainy-Day-Activities-Kids-23437274#photo-23651953" target="_blank">DIY fortune tellers</a> (remember these?!).</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Rainy-Day-Activities-Kids-23437274#photo-23563078" target="_blank">Build a terrarium</a>.</li>
<li>Jump rope.</li>
<li>Have fun with sidewalk chalk.</li>
<small class="source">Source: <a href="http://moms.popsugar.com/Kid-Friendly-Crafts-34458881#opening-slide" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Whatever . . . </a></small></p>
<li>Wash the family car(s).</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Easy-Homemade-Ice-Cream-Bag-23928188" target="_blank">Make your own ice cream</a>.</li>
<li>Catch fireflies.</li>
<li>Play with <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Washi-Tape-Crafts-Kids-25419907" target="_blank">washi tape</a>.</li>
<li>Play "I spy . . . "</li>
<li>Have a make-your-own-pizza party.</li>
<li>Gather up friends for an [insert sport of choice] game.</li>
<li>Venture out and explore a new playground.</li>
<li>Collect seashells on the beach and get crafty with them.</li>
<li>Come up with a Summer bucket list.</li>
<small class="source">Source: <a href="http://www.katescreativespace.com/2012/09/20/self-assembly-with-harry-the-friendly-pirate/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kate's Creative Space</a></small></p>
<li>Try <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Outdoor-Activities-Kids-Summer-30688762#photo-30688983" target="_blank">bubble painting</a> (this is <i>so</i> cool!).</li>
<li>Have a make-your-own-ice-cream-sundae bar.</li>
<li>Face painting - it's not just for birthday parties!</li>
<li>Have an old-fashioned water balloon fight.</li>
<li>Play hopscotch.</li>
<li>Play tourist in your own town, paying attention to the landscape and architecture that surround you.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Rainy-Day-Activities-Kids-23437274#photo-25522397" target="_blank">Make your own "goop!"</a></li>
<li>Play 20 questions.</li>
<li>Make <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Rainy-Day-Activities-Kids-23437274#photo-23561274" target="_blank">no-bake cookies</a>.</li>
<li>Sing in the rain!</li>
<small class="source">Source: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ragesoss/3093360671/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flickr user Sage Ross</a></small></p>
<li>Make a masking-tape racetrack for Matchbox speed demons.</li>
<li>Watch old family videos.</li>
<li>Have a dance party.</li>
<li>Make a massive memory collage.</li>
<li>Get a neighborhood game of tag or hide-and-seek going.</li>
<li>Have a tea party.</li>
<li>Tie-dye t-shirts.</li>
<li>Create an <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Fun-Food-Ideas-Kids-22912347" target="_blank">edible masterpiece</a>.</li>
<li>Get creative with a <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/Cardboard-Box-Projects-Kids-30651040" target="_blank">cardboard box</a>.</li>
<li>Decorate your bikes.</li>
<small class="source">Source: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattfreed/3566033097/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flickr user Matt Freed</a></small></p>
<li><a href="http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/" target="_blank">Go bowling</a> - for free!</li>
<li>Start a neighborhood dog-walking business.</li>
<li>Prevent Summer brain drain with an impromptu pop quiz on current events, geography, or spelling.</li>
<li>FaceTime or Skype with a faraway friend.</li>
<li>Play dress-up, then have a fashion show of your best looks.</li>
<li>Start a scrapbook.</li>
<li>Have a puppet show.</li>
<li>Make <a href="http://moms.popsugar.com/Kid-Friendly-Crafts-34458881" >melted crayon art</a>.</li>
<li>Make a soundtrack to Summer with iTunes or Spotify.</li>
<li>Make an <a href="http://moms.popsugar.com/Kid-Friendly-Crafts-34458881#photo-34459236" >Under the Sea-themed sensory bin</a> (with Jell-O!).</li>
</ol>
<p><small class="source">Front Page Image Source: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonywl/311170754/sizes/o/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flickr user tony's pics</a></small></p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Free-Things-Do-Kids-Summer-35141925#commentFood & FunKid ActivitiesSummerParentingSat, 01 Aug 2015 06:01:00 PDTLisa-Horten35141925Free Things to Do With Kids in SummerA Day Care Center Locked a Baby Inside After Closing, So His Mother Broke Inhttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Mother-Breaks-Day-Care-Center-After-Baby-Left-Alone-37992378
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Mother-Breaks-Day-Care-Center-After-Baby-Left-Alone-37992378"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media2.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/07/29/685/n/24155406/4eba678f_edit_img_image_16442351_1438181571.large.jpg" /></a><div class='sugar-embed-player'><iframe width="476" height="270" src="http://abc13.com/video/embed/?pid=887565" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p>A day care owner in Houston is profusely apologizing for the actions of one of her employees who left for the night, locked up, and drove away - with one of the children still inside.</p>
<p>Sharonda Ross, mother of 10-month-old Jordan, had a moment of confusion with her husband when she initially believed that he picked up their son from day care. Upon realizing that wasn't the case, she and her husband rushed to get him and were shocked when they noticed the parking lot was empty.</p>
<p>Sharonda could hear Jordan crying through the window, and after banging on it a few times to see if someone could be inside, her husband broke the glass and ran in to get their son. Sharonda has filed a claim of child abandonment with the Harris County Sheriff's Office, which is being investigated.</p>
<p>The owner of the day care, Joann Davis, says that she's "as sorry as she can be," but will not be firing the employee who left Jordan behind after leaving for the night.</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Mother-Breaks-Day-Care-Center-After-Baby-Left-Alone-37992378#commentParenting VideosParenting NewsChildcareSat, 01 Aug 2015 04:56:00 PDTAlessia-Santoro37992378Mother Breaks Into Day Care Center After Baby Is Left AloneOur Must Haves For Augusthttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Must-Have-August-2015-Finds-Babies-Kids-37991991
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Must-Have-August-2015-Finds-Babies-Kids-37991991"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media2.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/07/30/924/n/24155406/06afed4a_edit_img_image_14433127_1438180753_musthave-th1.large.jpg" /></a><p>When it's just too hot to play outside with the kids, shop online! Sure, it's not the most family-friendly activity, but the fruits of your labor will surely be appreciated when there's some brand-new goodies at your doorstep. This month, we've found quirky collaborations, debut designer collections, and just-released essentials for everyone, from newborn to new mom. Whether you're looking for a waterproof speaker for your upcoming vacation, a bed that's scientifically proven to put any restless kid to sleep, or a dress that you can actually pump in at your office, you'll find it all right here. Read on for our must haves for the month of August!</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Must-Have-August-2015-Finds-Babies-Kids-37991991#commentHot Kids ItemsKid ShoppingMust HavesSat, 01 Aug 2015 03:51:00 PDTKate-Schweitzer37991991Must Have August 2015 Finds For Babies and KidsLet It Bake! 16 Droolworthy Cakes Inspired by Disney's Frozenhttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Disney-Frozen-Cake-Ideas-33982195
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Disney-Frozen-Cake-Ideas-33982195"><img width="160" height="115" src="http://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/2014/02/12/935/n/24155406/745fd5e64458359f_1472896_735901449772811_289170699_n.jpg.large.jpg" /></a><p>When a film takes off as quickly as <b>Frozen</b>, you can bet little kids everywhere will be asking for birthday parties with it as the theme. With it's glistening ice castle, mountains of snow, and adorable characters - I mean, you can't beat Olaf and Sven as lovable characters - the entire movie lends itself to kiddie parties. So when it comes to the centerpiece of the party - the cake - mom's got to make a statement. Whether mom's a baker and creates her <b>Frozen</b> confection from scratch (as Busy Philipps did) or heads to the bakery with her vision in mind (as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=735502216479401&amp;set=pb.173529346010027.-2207520000.1392230523.&amp;type=3&amp;theater" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the baker above created for an actual Disney party</a>), get inspired by these unbelievable cakes featuring Olaf, Sven, Elsa, and Anna in pure edible form. </p>
<div class="source">Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=735502216479401&amp;set=pb.173529346010027.-2207520000.1392230523.&amp;type=3&amp;theater" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook user Sweet As Sugar Cakes</a></div>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Disney-Frozen-Cake-Ideas-33982195#commentFrozen movieFood and FunKid PartiesBirthday CakesSat, 01 Aug 2015 02:44:00 PDTRebecca-M-Gruber33982195Disney Frozen Cake Ideas10 Ways to Give Your PB&J a Makeoverhttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/Peanut-Butter-Jelly-Recipes-31122220
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Peanut-Butter-Jelly-Recipes-31122220"><img width="120" height="160" src="http://media4.popsugar-assets.com/files/2014/09/08/087/n/1922664/e24264c49692769d_thumb_temp_cover_file16253221376418774.large.jpg" /></a><p><i>Welcome to our guide to <a href="http://www.lilsugar.com/35391179" target="_blank">Back-to-School Success</a>: 31 days of tips, apps, recipes, and more to help you make this your family's best school year yet. We're using today to offer up 10 ways to reinvent that kiddie lunch box classic - peanut butter and jelly!</i></p>
<p><i>We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress <span class="nobrand">Tori Spelling</span> and her <a href="http://www.torispelling.com" target="_blank">ediTORIal by Tori Spelling</a> blog. This week, Tori shares 10 fun twists on peanut butter and jelly recipes</a>!</i></p>
<p><a href="http://www.torispelling.com" ><br />
</a>Now that school is almost in session, I'm starting to compile my shopping list for <a href="http://torispelling.com/blog/post/ask-tori-bedtime-and-school-lunches" target="_blank">school lunches</a>. One of the biggest challenges as a busy momista is finding delicious and easy school lunches that Liam and Stella won't get tired of seeing in their lunch boxes week after week. </p>
<p>Now there's a reason the PB&amp;J sandwich is such a lunch box staple. No two flavors go together quite like peanut butter and jelly. But as yummy as this sweet and salty combo is, plain old bread, peanut butter, and jam can get a little boring after a while. So today I'm sharing a few creative twists on the classic PB&amp;J. Based on what a hit my <a href="http://torispelling.com/blog/post/pb-and-cocoa-krispies-sandwiches" target="_blank">PB and Cocoa Krispies Sandwich</a> was with my babes, I have a feeling these recipes are going to be new favorites. And if your kiddos' school doesn't allow peanuts because of allergies, almond or sunflower seed butter will taste just as yummy.</p>
<p>Which recipe are you most excited to try?</p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/Peanut-Butter-Jelly-Recipes-31122220#commentKid-Friendly RecipesPeanut Butter and JellyBack to SchoolTori SpellingSat, 01 Aug 2015 01:32:00 PDTTori-Spelling31122220Peanut Butter and Jelly RecipesHow to Make Sure Kids Get Enough Sleephttp://www.popsugar.com/moms/How-Get-Kids-School-Sleep-Schedule-38008201
<a href="http://www.popsugar.com/moms/How-Get-Kids-School-Sleep-Schedule-38008201"><img width="160" height="160" src="http://media4.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/07/31/784/n/24155406/e41b3a7f_edit_img_image_845231_1438354256.large.jpg" /></a><p><i>School days! Our friends at <a href="http://www.allyou.com/diet-fitness/nutrition/children-sleep-hours/?xid=popsugarmoms-syn" target="_blank">All You</a> share tips for ensuring kids get enough sleep.</i></p>
<p>Skimping on Z's can affect kids' immunity, blood pressure, schoolwork and more. Here's how to help your kids max out their rest.</p>
<ul>
<li><b>Transition back to a school-year schedule gradually.</b> Kids going to bed late and waking up late? Two to three weeks before the first day of school, move bedtime up by a half hour (if they've been going to bed at 10, say, get them to bed at 9:30) and wake them up 30 minutes earlier, too. Every three days, move up bedtime and waking time a half hour until you've reached your target.
<li><b>Don't allow phones or tablets in the bedroom at night.</b> Kids with such devices in their room get less sleep and experience more daytime sleepiness than those who slumber in a tech-free zone, according to a recent University of California at Berkeley study.
<li><b>Keep bedrooms cool.</b> The best temperature for kids' sleep is 68 to 72 degrees. If they're too hot, their bodies can become restless-which would interfere with the quality of their sleep.
<li><b>Wash sheets with a lavender-scented detergent.</b> Several studies say the aroma decreases blood pressure and heart rate. One found that folks who sniff lavender before bed have deeper sleep and more energy in the morning.
<li><b>Institute a power-down hour.</b> The last 60 minutes before bed, dim the lights and put on soft music to signal it's wind-down time. (No television or other stimulating electronic devices.)
<li><b>Get snoring checked out.</b> If it happens regularly, and it appears unrelated to colds or allergies, talk to the pediatrician. Snoring might be a sign of sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops and starts during sleep. It can affect kids' academic performance by worsening their memory and concentration. And the condition can make it more likely that kids will be misdiagnosed with a problem such as ADHD. In fact, children who snore might be more likely to require special-education services, studies have shown.</li>
</ul>
<p>Did you know? Kids age 6 to 13 need nine to 11 hours of sleep, while teens need eight to 10 hours.</p>
<p><b>More great reads from All You:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.allyou.com/smartshopping/best-books-on-tape/?xid=popsugarmoms-syn" target="_blank">Best Books on Tape For Summer Mom Time</a><br />
<a href="http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/money-shopping/back-to-school-shopping-tips/?xid=popsugarmoms-syn" target="_blank">7 Back-to-School Shopping Tips</a><br />
<a href="http://www.allyou.com/diet-fitness/nutrition/child-sports-safety/?xid=popsugarmoms-syn" target="_blank">Dos and Don'ts of Kids and Sports</a></p>
http://www.popsugar.com/moms/How-Get-Kids-School-Sleep-Schedule-38008201#commentParenting AdviceSleepFri, 31 Jul 2015 13:33:00 PDTAll-You38008201How to Get Kids on School Sleep Schedule